A new study from theJournal of Indoor Environmental Qualityfinds that compared with forced air and hot water radiant heat, electric baseboard heating was associated with a significant increase of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in healthy children, as well as those with allergies. The study’s lowest results in all evaluations favor hot water radiant heating to reduce airway inflammation in children with asthma.
Also from the journal, a new report looks at the effects of humidification on influenza virus survival in rooms conditioned with radiant heating and forced air.
“These laboratory studies have consistently confirmed that survival of the influenza virus in the air and on surfaces is modulated by moisture levels, with the majority showing the lowest level of survival in the range of 40 to 60% relative humidity,” an excerpt from the report’s conclusion reads. “While field studies are necessary to confirm our modeling results, our findings suggest that indoor humidification will increase absolute humidity and relative humidity to levels shown to reduce levels of the influenza virus.”
